Island



C; T. Mmm.A K APPARATUS'FOR SORTING MACHINE ELEMENTSI APPLICATION FILEDJULY I9-, 1'921.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET l.

c. T. Mo'REY. APPARATUS FOR SORTING, MACHINE ELEMENTS.`

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 19,1921.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. A C'. T. MOREY.

APPARATUS FOR soRIING MACHINE ELEMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 19,1921.

Patented Ag. 1, 1922.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

l R I [i7 vena? Y 67705592' 7072270212:? by @M KM e M C. T. MOBEY.

APPARATUS FOR SORTLNG MACHINE ELEMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY 19.192I.

Ptentedug. 1, 1'922.

s SHEETS-SHEET 4.

C. T. MOREY APPARATUS FOR S-ORTING MACHINE ELEMENTS. APPLlcATloN nienJULY 19,1921.

C. T. MOREY.

APPARATUS FOR SORTING MACHINE ELEMENTS.

APPLICATION FILFD JULY T9, T921. 1,424,370.

l Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Eej?. 6.

221 w 1go A Iveif 13.9 ifeae'flyoz'qy 94 S 140 laf 4M WMM c.` r;` MonEY.APPARATUS FOR SORTING MACHlNE vELEMENTS. APPLICATION FILED JULY I9,192|.

WM; 4M@

eiZ/o 74774740' c.gT. Mom. APPARATUS FOR SOIIIJING MACHINE ELEMENTS.

APPLICATION FILFDJIILY 19.1921.

Patented Aug, `1, 1922 B SHEETS-SHEET B I IIIII cit UNITED N sTArssPATENT ortica. A

CHESTER fr. ivionny,` or rnoVID-nivcn. RHODE ISLAND.

AFPAiaAcrUs'nonA semaine MACHINE ELEMENTS.

Application led July 19,

To all fio/limit 'it may concer/L: i

it n.nc-wn that l, Gi'i'nsrnu T. Menor, a ot the United Statesoi"America, and resident of Providence, in the county Providence and .Stateof Rhode island, have invented new and useful improvements in .Apparatusttor Sorting Machine Elements, ot Which the tolloivingis aspecilication.

This invention relatesto mechanism tor sorting and similarly positioningsubstrintially iilre elements for subsequent operations thei'eolii andmore particularly to means for so sorting and preliininarily positioninginachine elei'nents such as to permit of the drilling, tapping `oi"other machining oi -snch elements with accuracy and ease. ln' themanufacture of nuts, the blanks are punched ,troni material oit theproper thickness and usually subjected to severalsubsequent operationsprior to drilling and tapijiing, whereby the sides are given the desiredsmoothness ot tinish and one end is cham- :iei'ed or rounded to 'tormthetop ofthe iinished nut. For the drilling and 'the tapping ot the nut,itis desirable that the ltool always enter trom a given end ot the nut.and in the tapping particularly it is important that the top enter tronithe tcp side of the nut in order that the flat or unronnded end of 'thelatter may engage the surface ol" the work rest, whereby to avoidtipping or tilting oilf the nul during the operatioinand ensuring theperpendiculai'ity of the tapped hole to the bottom Ylacc oit the nut. ltis thus desirable to provide automatic means ttor `similarly arrangingthe nut blanks for presentation to the drilling and tapping inegchanism,and one vapparatus suitable tor this purpose disclosed in the patent tolViorey No. V .l2i8, May 257 i920. llihile the patented device iseminently suitablegior the purpose, the proscritinvention has critsprincipal obiect the provision of simple and. improved means torperforming-the desired function.. To this end. in lieu of causing thenut to navel to one or another of selected discharge .openings inaccordance ivith its initial posi-v tion and as disclosed in saidpatenaa movable selector device is employed, providing the nut may bedelivered, the'presentation oit a plurality ot receptacles into eitherot which either` olf ysuch receptacles in `nut receiving position beingIcontrolled bv. the intial posi-1 tion oi the nut. Certain of suchreceptacles may deliver into a common discharge pas- "ifhe rejectedblanks.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pwbngd Aug; 1, 1922 1921. Serial No.485,993.

sage) turning means being provided between such receptacles and passagewhereby all nuts received in either of the receptacles will be caused tot'ace in the saine direction as .they enter the passage.

i its the nut blanks delivered to the positioning mechanism are somtimesimperifect `by reason ot' eccentric punching of the opensome means ormechanism whereby the imyperfect blanks may be separated or sorted liromthe perfect blanks, and a :further object l.oi the present invention isto provide such h the pos'il sorting means in combination Wit tioniiiginechaiiisin. With this object in view7 the movable seleitor device maybe provided `with a special receptacle vlor iinperlfect blankss suchreceptacle opening into an independent passage lior 'the discharge ci:

For properly positioning the selectorfdevice, :leeler mechanism similarto that discloseffi in the aforesaid patent may be provided, but inaddition thereto a secondary tee-h also be used Whereb to ascertain thep.L .icc ot imicrtectly 'formed blanks `and ior detciniining theposit-ion oi the selecto f dev if. e ttor rejecting such blanks.

parts being in section and other unnecessary to a proper disclosure ofsent niechai'iiili'ii. beine' on'iitted .i is a side elevation from therighthand side ot lthe device as seen in Fig. l, certain ot the partsbeing broken away;

l' is a side elevation of the lett-hand side oi vthe machine as viewedin Fig. l, cer tain parts being broken away;

fiig. d: is a. plan view oi" the device with certain parts in.horizontal section;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on the line dot Fig.

Fig. 6 is a the line l is a iti-ont elevation oi? the device7` erablycomprises a cas substantially on the line g-L of Fig. 5 and illustratingthe selector device as occupying three diil'erent operative positions.-

Fmme mtl drive means.

The frame of the machine comprises a base casting l from which risevertical members such as 2, 3. Integral with such vertically extendingmembers is a horizontal table-like device 4L. From the u pper surface ofsuch table-like device rise brackets 6, 7 supporting a bearing sleeve 8.lNithin such bearing sleeve is secured a shaft 9 upon which may bemounted a sleeve member 10 having an arm 11 integrally dependingtherefrom. Such arm forms a portion of the succeefling machine used inthe Vformation of the nuts and is actuated thereby. This arm forms nopart of; the present invention, and may be omitted from the machine ifdesired.

Extending outwardly from one ot the vertical meu'ibers of the traine areoppositely directed bosses l2. 13 (Fig. 2) such bosses being providedwith. a long' Aidinal here in which a sha-ft lflis mounted 'for retail'This shaft projects to the. rear of the frame and has secured thereon acylinder Cani 15. The shaft alsohas mounted loosely thereon sprocketwheel or other suitable drive clement indicated at 16, such sprocketwheel being connected to the shaitt as by means of friction discs 17interposed between the wheel andthe cam 1T, and by Adiscs 1T pressedagainst such wheel by means ot a plate 18 serving as an abutment for oneend of a spring 19, the opposite end of: such spring engaging a collar20 secured to the shaft by means oi' a nut 21,. By this ai rangement theproper driving of the sl'iaft 14 is provided for, while at the same timethe possibility et the breakage of the parts, due to jamming ofimproperly shaped. or positionediiuts tbereinis avoided, in auch casethe sprocket wheel 16 is pern'iitted to slip upon the shaft. .At itsopposite end the shaft 1 4 is provided with a pair ot wiper cams 22, 23,respectively, the purpose ot ithe several cams being describedhereinafter.

tute.

rof bolts indicated at 25. This liange tori-.ns

an integral portion oi" a"i1'ertic:il.lyextending chute 27 which, asindicated in 4;, preft' le; ott channel Yform, the .open side oi whichmay be closed bv a. removable plate it desi The li :t dina'l lpassagewithin the casting nl dimensionsl to permit nuts oir tl..

'size to slide down thcsaine ede wise. but is suliicieiitiy restrictedto lre. iin them against any 'tipping into horizon position.`

While this chute is herein illustrated as a casting, it is contemplatedthat it might, under some circumstances, be formed other- Wise, as forexample ot 'sheet metal suitably pressed into the shape, and while thechute has been described as secured in position by means of boltsengaging an integral flange, it is clear that other securingmeans mightwell be employed, if desired. This chute may lead from any suitablesource of supply such as a rotating `feed drum or the lilre or maybelted directly trom a preceding machine or by hand.

Feder c/zcmbcr y@ad /icelcr devices.

The lower end of the chute, at 29, (Figs. 5 and 7) opens into a chamber2O formed in the upper portion oit the frame. this chambei.' being ofsubstantially `rectangular 'form and having its bottom wall providedwith a hardened wear plate 31. This wear plate may be secured to the:traine by means of screws 32 or in other desired manner. it beingunderstood that while such weainplate is desirable, it is not essentialto the operation of the mechanism. Tlu lett hand side wall of: thechamber 30 is also provided with a hardened plate, as indicated at 32(Figs. 5 and 11) such plate being secured in position by means of screws33. The plate 32 is provided with a centrally arranged, cuplilre cavity,(Fig. 11'). Extending through the adjacent portion o'l' the trame, andthrough the plate 32 is al cylindrical lbore which opens into thecavityB/t and is concentric. therewithL Movable longitudinally the boreis a plunger member 36, the end. of which is provided with a wear plate37' secured thereto by means oit a screw 38. This wear plate in normalposition projects into the cavi-ty 34, as indicated for exampie in Fig.11, the outer surface of such wear plate lying substantially in theplane of. the outer surface of the plate 32. The plunger 536 is. carriedby, and as herein'illustrated, may be integral with a lever 3'?, suchlever being provided with spaced ears 38, having pivotal engagement withthe lower portion of the chute 27. The lever 37 as thus arranged isrockable in a vertical plane, the bore being of a diameter suiiicient topermit the plunger 36 to move longitudinally therein while oscillatingvwith the lever 3T. The lever 3T projects downwardly below the plunger36 and is provided with a tail 40.

Mounted in brackets 41 (Fig. 7) projectfrom the left-hand side of theframe is a shaft 42., said shaft having securedA thereto a bell ,cranklever provided with an arm 43 having an adjustable stop pin lllengageable with the tail e0 of lthe lever 37. The bell crank lever alsocomprises an arm l5 whichl extends laterally outward, and which isprowith which engages the outer end of the coil 'spring 1.7, theopposite end of which is secured to an eye-bolt Q28 fixed in the upperpart oit the trame. lli/lith the parts thus arra gedV the spring l?tends to rotate the bell clank lever in a clockwise direction, thuscarrying the pin 4.4i into engagement with the tail l0 and therebynormally maintainino' the plunger 36 with its inner end proiec 'ng intothe cavity 34.

The wall ot thc chamber 130 opposite the plate Si?, is .formed by thesurtaceA-.l olv a leve;l device 50, such level.' device being pivote( tooscillatev about the axis ot a stub shaft 5l @extending transverselyfrom `trout to` rear of the traine and secured in a f,ui.t='.ibleopening in one ci the vertical y Ytrarne members, (Fig. 5). 'This leverdevice is preferably constructed as indicated in Vlili 5 and i',comprising parallel web membe between which is arranged 'anantiiriction. roll .mounted upon a shalt 53 extending through said webmembers and se=- cured therein. The roll 52 is arranged for engagementwith the wiper cam 22 previ ously described, lnterposcd between one olithe vertical members oit' the trame and the lever 50 is a compressionspring 5d, such spring serving normally to maintain the cam roll inengagementwith the cam.

horizf'n al bore 55 extends through the i per part oi the lever50'opening through. io surface 49 into chamber S0 such bore be- ,V insubstantial axial alignment with the bore 35 previouslyY described.Within the bore 55 is arranged a plunger sleeve 56. A plate is securedto the upper part of the lever as by means of a bolt or screw 5S andserv to cover the right-hand end oitlv the boire 55, as viewodin Figi.lllithin the sleeve 56 a secondary flange or 'tec/ler ba r 59 isarranged for longitudinal sliding movement, thatend olf said baradjacent to ehamher 30 normally being flush with the end of sleeve 56.This bar is provided with a stem 30 which is surroiuided'by a vcoilspring 6l., such spring beingv seated within a cylindrical cavity in thesleeve 56 and having one end bearing against an annular shoulder in saidcavity. rthe opposite end ot the spring bearsr against the. plate 57.The? stern 60 ot,V

the leeler bar passes out t n'ough an opening in theplate 5i and .isprovided with a transverse opening through which passes a pivotA pin 62whereby such. stem is pivotally secu red to a lever arm The lever arm 63is pivoted at 6d to a bracliet carried by the upper part of the lever50, and at apoint below the pivot pin 62 the lever o3 is provided withan adjustable stop' pin 66, the inner end ot which is engagcable withthe outer surface of the platey 5"?. rit its lower extremity the leveris provided with an offset contact member 67 and is also. provided withan eye-bolt 68 to which one end .the lower surface ot the table 4.

of a spring 69 is secured. The opposite end of the spring 69 is :tast toa pin 70 secured to the lever member 50 such spring tending normally tomove lever and bar 59 to the lett. Projecting`ldownwardly from thesleeve 50 is a lug 7l lin which is arranged an adjustable stop pin 72engageable with an adjacent surface of the upper part of lever member50.

Extending transversely across the Vtrame olI the machine, and throughsuitable bearings therein is a rod 73, the right-hand end olf which, :isseen in Fig. 8 is arranged 4tor engageinent by the contact element 67.At its opposite end the rod 73 is arranged for contact with an arm'Tlo't a bell crank lever 75, such arm, it desired, being provided with.an adjustable contact pin 76 'for engagement by the end ot suchv rod.This bell crank is secured. to a shaft 77 pivotally mounted in thebrackets lil., `suchbell crank having a rearwardly extending armprovided with an opening 7S to which is connected the lower end oif aspring 79, theupper end of such spring being secured to an eye bolt 80(Fig. 3) tast in the upper part of the frame. Fixed upon the shafts d2and 77, respectively, are the pawl levers 8l and 82, respectively, (Fig.9) said levers ending in tooth `members 83, 84. The lever 82 lies in avertical plane immediately behind the planeoic. the `lever 8l, suchlevers cooperating with parts hereinafter to be described.

Pils/zer or transferrer device.

va guide ltor thepusher or transterrer slide rod 85. This rod is alsoslidable' in a guide opening in a bracket S6 depeinlingI 'from At itsforward end the rod 95 isprovided with the intersecting beveled andvertical faces 87 Q8, such Afaces serving forengagem'ent with a nutresting upon thewear plate 3l4 and acting, upon .Forward movement oi.the rod 95, to displace such nut from. the cha1nber 30. i

n.. bracket member 89 is serured tothe underside oiE the table ladjacent its rear edge and such bracket is provided with a threadedopening for the reception of an adjustable stop screw 90, such screwbeing provided with a lock nut 91, if desired. The screw 90 lies in thepath of movement ot the bar 85 and .serves to limit the rearwardmovement oi" the same.

ot the vertical frame members and through a boss 94 projecting from such"member,

wall of the chamber 30 is pro y The lever 91 is pivoted `upon shait 93which extends 4through one The lever 91, at its upper end, is biturcatedto form spaced arms 95, 90,'which are arranged upon opposite sides ofythe bar 85 and are pivotally connected thereto by means et a pin 97.f1`he lever 91 comprises a laterally extending sleeve portion 98 'fromwhich depends an arm. 99 having a roll 100 at its lower extremity. Thisroll is mounted onda pin or stud 101 and tarns freely thereon. The roll100 arranged to enn gage within the helical slot 1.02 of the cylindricalcam 15, Ithe parts being so arranged that upon rotation of said cam thelever 91 is caused to oscillate, thereby reciprocating the bar 35 in itsguideways. For preventing accidental escape of anut deiivered from thechute 27 onto the plate 31, there'may be provided a depending gatemember as 103 (see Fig. 5), such gate member being pivoted at its upperedge, and being normally retained in vertical position by means ot alight spring surrounding the pivot, or by gravity, desired. Such gatemember serves ter close the open, Vforward side ot the chamber 30, butis tree to swing 'forwardly to permit a nut te be discharged from thechamber 3 0 by the positive action ot the pusher rod 85.

Seleotgr.

Cooperating with the chamber 30 and with the pusher rod 35 is a selectordevice indicated in Figs. 1 and 6. This selector device comprises alever 104 mounted to swing upon the pin 51 and preferably having a hub104a upon which. the lever 50 is mounted to swing. This lever preferablycomprises a casting having a longitudinally extending channel 105 whichmay, it desired, be closed by a plate 106 at its 'forward side. Thischannel is ot substantially rectangular cross section and of properdimensions to permit a nut to slip down the same when in 'an edgewiseposition, but being of sufficiently restricted size to prevent tippingof the nut during its descent. rPhe upper end of the lever 104 ispreferably provided with apair of anti-friction rollers 105, 106,respectively, such rollers being mounted upon studs 107 108. The rollerscooperate with a longitudinal groove 109 formed in an arcuate guidemember 110, such guide member being secured by means ot bolts or inother desired. manner to a pair ot bracket arms 111, 112, respectively,which in turn are se# cured to the main `frame by means of bolts as 113,and the bolts 2G previously referred to.

Extending laterally from the lower portion of' lever 104 is a rigid arm114, such arm being provided at its extremity with an anti-frictionroller 115 carried upon a stud 116. Connected to the outer end of thebracket arm 114 is a member 117 which may be integral therewith orconnected thereto by the bolt 11?, such member having an opening inwhich is secured the lower end of a coiled spring 113. The upper end oitthe spring 113 is secured to a pin 119 liXed in the guide member 110,such spring tending to swing the lever 114 in a counterclockwisedirection about its axis. The roll 115 lies in the vertical plane of thecam 23 above described, suoli cam serving by engagement with the roll115 to swing the lever 10aL in clockwise direction in Iopposition to theaction of the spring 118.

The upper portion oit the channel 105 is llaterally enlarged and isdivided into two divergent chambers 120, 12,1, respectively by acentrally disposed separator member 122. This separator member, as`indicated tor example in Fig. 11, comprises a substantially fiat rearsurface 123 and curved lateral surfaces 124, 125, which intersect at theedge 126.v rthis separa-tor member may be made integral with the lever104, it desired, but is preferably formed of hardened material such astempered steel and secured to the upper end oi `the linner wall ot thechannel 105 by means yot a screw 127 or in other Jdesired manner. Thechambers 120, 121 extend somewhat to the rear of the rear wall ofchannel 105 and are provided with downwardly inclined botto-m surfaces123,

1.29, respectively, (Fig. .10) which lead to the vertical portion of thechannel 105. T he side and front walls ot the chambers 120, 121 arepreferably toi-med by a lining member 135 which may be of hardenedmaterial and furnished with guide plates such as 130, 131, respectively,where such side walls merge into the walls orl channel 105; rlhe lorwardportions or' the outer walls ot the chambers 120, 121 respectively areof curved tormation as indicated at 132 and 133 respectively (Fig. 11)such walls having a curvature substantially corresponding to that of thewalls 124, 125, respectively, of the separator member 122. rl`he plates130, 131, where they merge i into such curved wallsl preferably have asimilar curvature.

To the left ot the chamber 120 there is also provided al third chamber134, such chamber being separated from the chamber 120 by the wall ofthe lining member The chamber 134 may also be provided with a downwardlyand forwardly inclined sur- .tace 136 leading to alaterally directedchannel 137 which opens downwardly at the point 133 at the side of themachine.

Upon the rear of the selector lever 104 there is secured a ratchet plate139 (Fig. 9), said plate beingconnected to the lever by means of screws140, and preferably being ot hardened material. This ratchet plateprovides aledge 141 lying in the vertical plane of the pawl 81 and asecond rear wardly disposed ledge 142 lying in the plane of the pawl 82.The rSt-llamed ledge is vot' the channel 105. The upper end of thischute, which is lined, may be beveled in opposi te directions asindicated at 147 whereby to permit. the swinging ot the member' 104relatively thereto. The chute 146 may lead to any desired point ofdischarge, as. tor example to the next machine employed in the finishingof the nuts. The 'leedii'ig of nuts :from the lower end of this chutemay be controlled by a suitable gate member carried by the lever 11above referred to, it' such lever be employed.

The shaft 14 is ro-tated by means of a sprocket chain or` other suitabledevice engaging the wheel 16, such wheel driving the shaft through thefriction-clutch arrangement described. bis the shalt` is rotated, thecams 15, 22 and 23 are simultaneously rotated therewith. lt beingassumed that nuts have been dropped promiscuously into the chute 27, thelowermost ot such nuts will rest upon the plate 31. lf with the partsarranged as indicated in Fig. 1 the sha-'tt 14 is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction the cam 22 will be carried out o1' contactwith the roller52, thuspermitting the lever member 50 to swing to theright under the. action or' spring 54, moving the sleeve 56 from out thechamber 30'by engagement ot the pin 72 with the side ot lever 50. fisthe shaft 14 continues to rotate, the cam 23 will be brought intocontact with the roller 115, whereupon the selector device will beswung` in a clockwise direction tensioning the spring 118. Such movementot the selector lever continues until the notch 145 has been broughtopposite the tooth 84 ot the pawl S2 whereupon such toot-h, under theaction ot spring 7 9, drops into this notch, therebyr locking theselector device against movement in the opposite direction. lith theparts as thus positioned, the chamber 134 lies opposite the chamber 30.As the shaft 14 continues to rotate, the cam 22 comes into engagementwith the roll 52, thus swinging the lever member 50 in a.counter-clockwise direction. its the lever moves in this direction, theleft-hand end of the sleeve 56 moves into the chamber 30. li' at thistime a nut be resting upon the plate 31, such nut will be pushed to t-heleft until it is brought into Contact with the plate 32, such plateserving to stopy 'further movement of the nut by the action otsleeve 56.The lever 50, however, may continue to move to the left for a shortdistance, compressing the spring 61 between the sleeve and the plate 57secured to the lever 50. As' there is normally a space between the plate57 and the end of the sleeve 56, sufficient lost motion is proc videdbetween these parts to avoid any breakage due to stopping of the sleeve56 by engagement with a nut prior to the completion of the movement otthe leve-r 50.

It the nut be eccentrically punched, or unpunched, so that its openingdoes not come opposite the end of the leeler bar 59, the movement of thelatter to the lett with sleeve 56 will be retarded (Fig. 12). Suchstopping or' the bar 59 will serve .to swing the lever 63 in acounter-clockwise ,direction about its pivot 64, thus tensioning thespring 69 and carrying the contact member 67 away from vthe end of rod73. As the rod 73 is thus unaffected by the swinging of the lever 50 tothe lett the pawl 82 remains in engagement with the tooth 145 of theselector lever. As the cam 22 now moves away trom the roll, the lever 50is swung to the right by means ot' the spring` 54 and substantially atthe same time the groove 102 in the cam 15 acting upon the roller 100moves the pusher rod 85 forwardly. The pusher rod 'engages the detectivenut resting upon the is discharged from the machine at the point 138. ltwill thus be seen that defective nuts are automatically dischargedthrough the passage 137 and are not delivered to the succeeding machine.

lt the lowermost nut which rests on lplate 31 is substantially perfect,the end of the teeler bar 59 passes into the opening in the nut as thesleeve 56 moves into the chamber 30. Under such circumstances the spring09 retains the lever 63 substantially in vertical position with the stopscrew 66 engaging the plate 57. is the lever 50 completes its movementto the lett the contact member 67 engages the end of the rod 73 andcauses it to slide to the lett. the lett, its lett-hand extremity, whichengages the lug 74., swings the lever, comprising the arm 75, in acounter-clockwise direction, vthus tensioning spring` 79 and at the sametime lifting the pawl 82 whereby to release its tooth 84 'from the notch145. The spring 118 immediately swings the selector lever 104 in acounter-clockwise direction until the tooth ot the pawl S1 drops intothe notch 144 holding the selector in such position that the chamber 121lies opposite the chamber 30. Assuming that the bottom nut N drops uponthe plate 31, with the flat tace 150 of the nut to the left and with .asthis rod moves to the chamferedface 151 thereofin position forengagement by vthe left-hand eno of the pluneer sleeve 56:(Fig. 11) thelatter, upon vmovement to the left, will press the flat surface 150 ofthe nut firmly against the plate. As the diameter of the, nut is,however, slightly greater than that of the cavity 32, thernut is notpermitted to enter the latter, and thus fails to make operativel contactwith the end of the plunger 36. The tooth 83 of the pawl 81,. which nowengages the notch 144, thus continues to retain the selector device insuch position that the chamber' 1,20 lies opposite the chamber 30. Asthe driving shaft 14 revolves and the member 85 is moved forwardly, thenut positioned within the chamber 30 is thrust forwardly into :thechamber 121 raising,r the gate 103, ifvsuch be employed, it beingunderstood that the pusher sleeve 56 is retracted priorto the forwardmotion of the bar 85. As the nut passes into the chamber 120, it restsupon the inclined surface 128 and tends to slide downwardly thereon. Asthe nut moves downwardly` it encounters the surfaces 132 yand 124, andis thus caused successively to assume thebroken line positions indicatedat N. N2, 11. When the nut reaches the latter position it is free tofall. vertically through the channel 105 and into the upper end of thechute .146, it being; noted that as the nut passes down such channel itsfiatsurface is presented in a forward direction.

lf the bottom nut in the chute drops upon the plate 31 with itscharnfered side to the left,-that is to say7 in a position such that itmay be received within the cavity 30 with its flat surface 150 inposition for engagen'ient by the end of sleeve 56 10i.y the movement ofthe latter serves to thrust the chanifered end of the nut into thecavity .534. fis the end of the plunger 3G is of a dianieter somewhatgreater than the opernngv in the nut, such plunger is pushed.outwardlyas the nut enters the cavity 34. This movement of the plunger aetuatesthe lever il? and the bell crank, comprising the arm and terres totension the spring` 47 and to li 't tthe pawl tooth 83 from the notch144. T he spring' 118 immediately swings the lever 104 vto 'the leftuntil the tooth 83 engages the notch 143. lith the parts in thisposition the chamber 121 of the selector device is opposite Athe chamber30. Upon retraction of the sleeve 5G and projection of the rod the nutis pushed out fromthc chamber 30, raising the gate member 103, if suchbe employed.y and passing` into the chamber 121. As the nut enters thelatter chamber it slides down the inclined surface 129 and in so doinencounters the surfaces 133 and 125. respctively. The nut is thus causedto assume the 'position indicated in broken lines N", Nt. Fig'. 10.y andfrom the latter position drops vertically through the channel 105.

rllhe nut thus delivered from the chamber 120, enters 'the channel 105in a position similar to that of a nut delivered from the chamber 121,and thus regardless of the position of the nut as it falls upon theplate 31, it is delivered through the chute with its fiat face alwaysdirected forwardly. The machine thus serves in an automatic manner notonly Vto eject improperly formed nuts, but also to orient all perfectnuts passing down the supply chute in such manner as to cause them 4tooccupy similarl positions in the delivery chute. I I

It will be evident from inspection of Figs. l0, 11 that the upper end ofthe channel 105 is entirely open, and thus may be inspected without thenecessity for removing4 parts or dismantling the machine. This is ofespecial advantage in a machine of this character as it permits theready removal of nuts which may, for one or another reason, becomejammed in the delivery channel. The machine may be operated with greatrapidity and may be so co-ordinated with preceding or successivemachines as to provide a continuous supply of properly positioned nuts.forsubsequent operations. y

While the vai'iouselements of the machine have been described withreference to the specific shape and arrangement of parts hereinillustrated. it is to be understood that various changes in form orarrangement. as well as in location of the various parts might vwell bemade without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

.lhlaving` thus described the invention in a preferred embodiment of thesame. what l. .lesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesist- 1. f1 nut blank sorting and positionii'igmachine, comprising meansfor rejecting'i'mperfect blanks, and means for similarly orientingproperly perforated blanks. y

2. t nut blank sorting and positionine` mechanism comprising' means forrejecting` eccentrically perforated blanks and for similarly orientingproperly perforated blanks.

nut blank sorting; and positioning` machine comprising feeler meansresponsiie to the presence of animperforated blank, and feelercontrolled means for determining' the similar orientation of properlyperfo'- rated blanks.

4. A. machine for use in the manipulation of detached objects normallyprovided with perforations therethrough comprising means for rejectingdefective or imperlorate jects and for orienting the remaining,` objectswhereby to bring' them into like p`osition. I f. y y

5. In a machine for msinipulatine` 'detached machine elements. in'coml'iinatioin means for supporting such elements. feeler mechanismsentitively responsive v'to imperfections in such elements, feelermechanism and-means for selectively registering si ig:

elements with said Work support compris' H a plurality of feelermechanisms r 4ms'.

respectively to malformations vin work resting upon said support and tovariab e positions thereof.

7. In combination, in a .machine of the class described, a Work supportand a pair of Work engaging feelers, such feelers beine responsiverespectively to variations in ho Zontal and vertical positions of irorlrres' upon said support. i i

8. In combination,l in a machine for ma nipul ating nut blanks, a pairof in feeler devices comprising plunger in substantial alinement andmovable and from one another.

9. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movableselectordevi l.. resilient means for moving said device in direction,means for moving` said. device in the opposite direction, a Worlrsupport and a pair of independent feeler devices for determining theposition of such selector device relative to the Work support inaccordance With variations in position of .vorlr resti upon said Worksupport.

l0. A machine of the class describ prising a Work support, a workerabutment, areciprocable plunger for i. ing Work into engagement withsaid al ment, and a feeler member arranged coaXially with said plunger,such feeler mem-1 ber being sensitively responsive to the eccentricpositioning of YWorlr relativeto the worlr engaging surface of saidplunger.

ll. In a nut sorting machine, an abiitinent member having asubstantially circuliuf Work engaging surface, said surlf'ace being`provided with a central opening, a feeler member projecting through saidopening, means for pressing Worx against the surface of said abutment,and feeler means asso-- ciated With said Work pressin means.

, l2. In a machine of the class described, an abutment member having acavity, said abutment having an opening therein arranged aXially of saidcavity, a springpressed plunger seated within said opening and a lockingpawl mechanism operable in accordance vwith movements of said plun Yroccasioned by the pressure of wort; the. against.

13. In combination in a machine of the class described, a selectorllever, a wort: engaging abutment, a plunger constructed and arranged topress Work into engagement toward `movable member provided with withsaid abutment, a lever member porting said plunger, a rotatable a a pairof cams lixedly mounted upon said shaft and arranged to actuate saidrespecu tive levers.

le, In combination, in a machine of the class described, a worlrsupport, va work sitioning abutment, a hollovv plunger pressing Workagainst said abutment a secondary plunger slidable ivi l plunger, alever member for supoorting said first plunger, a second lever memberhaving connection with the outer extremity of said second plunger, amovable parlvsgind transmission means interposed between said pav'l andan element of said ylast-nmned lever.

l5. `In a machine of the cl described, in rombination, a stationarywollt suppe ',v a a lL .raily opening` Work receiving chamber adjacentits free extremity, reciprocable feeler '.ieans engageable with Werl;resting upon said support and constructed and arranged toilelermine theregistration of said chamber with said Work support, anda transferrerdevice comprising a plunger movable .in a path ei;- tending transverselyof that of the feeler and constructed and arranged to push work from theWork support into said chamber.

16. In avmachine for sorting nut blanl r in combination, a segmentallever having plurality of laterally opening chambers adjacentJ itsarcuate end, a Work support having its supporting surface so constructedand arranged as to permit the selectiveireo'- istration of either' ofsaid chambers there- With, a` plunger member movable trans-- versely ofsaid Worlr support, and cam actuated means for moving said plunger atpredetermined intervals Whereby to transfer Work from the Work supportto that one of such chambers which is in registry there- With. y

li". An apparatus of the class described comprising Work positioningmeans, a movable member having a plurality of w rlrv rcceiving openingstherein, said member having a discharge passage, work orienting meansinterposed between the respective openings andv said passage, and meansfor moving said member whereby selectively to 'ister said openings withsaid. worlrposiiodine' means.

18. fr sorting apparatus comprising movable select-or device having aplurality of receiving chambers, a support for objects to be sorted,feeler means movable .into contact with an object resting upon saidsupport, and means actu-able in accordance `o'fith determinations ofsaid feeler means for positioning said selector device.

19. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for temporarilysupporting an object, a member oscillatafble about a vso lined axis andhaving a plurality o1'.c spaced openings adjacent its free extremity,said openings being constructed and arranged selectively to bepositioned adjacent said supporting means, and means associated withsaid latter means-for moving an object supported thereby into one ofsaid openings.

20. ln a machine 'of the class described a member provided with apluiaiityoi work receiving comjiartments, a work support provided withan abutment having a cavity, a plunger having an axial bore', a secondplunger slidable within said bore, and means controlled by the movemento' said second plunger for determining the position or one or' saidcompartments rela-tively to said work support. Y

2l. il. sorting apparatus comprising an oscillatable selector devicelaving a plurality oi chambers therein opening respectively intoindependent discharge olnninels, means normally operative to oscillatesaid device through a predetermined arc, means for supporting objects tobe sorted, teeier mea s for determining the position of an objectresting upon said support, and means lfor limiting the oscillation or'said selector device in accordance with such determinatioii,

In combination in machine of the (lass described, work positioningmeans, a member movable relatively to said positioning means andprovided with a plurality of spaced compartments, said member having acommon discharge passage communicating with a plurality of saidcompartments and a second discharge passage con'mninicating with anotherof said con'lpartments, means capable of moving said member through apath of predetermined extent, and m 'for stopping said member with oneor another of said compartments in registry with said positioning means.

23. In a machine oi? the class desrribed,

Gti ilS a selector device comprising a. lever of substantially segmentalliorm and provided with a plurality o'i spaced chambers adjacent itsarcuate edge, a passage extending substantially radially through saidlever and communicating with a pair oi" such chambers, and a secondpassage connnunieating with a third of such chambers, said secondpassage diverging from the lirst passage and opening at the edge ot thelever.

24. .ein apparatus of the class described comprising work positioningmeans, a movable member having a plurality or work receiving elements,and common discharge means for receiving Worlc 'from said elements, worktranslerring means lior transferring work from said positioning means toone lor the other ot said receiving elements and Work orienting meansinterposed 1 ce t er nicht d rl; passing from said compartment into ipassage. Y

27. ln combination in an apparatus Yfor positioning detached objects, aworh trans i rring device, a eompar nent tor receiving f-forlr from saidtransferring device, a pasng from said compartment, and means iiororienting the worlrin passing from said compartment to said passagecomprising surface olf curved contour.

28. in a machine of the class described, an oscillatable lever memberprovided with a compartment adjacent its tree extremity, suchcompartment communicating with a discharge passage extendingloi'igitudinally f iid of said lever, a worlr support having anabutment, a plunger for forcing work against said abutment, said plungerbeing provided with an axial bore, a second plunger slidable within thesaid bore, means whereby to stop said lever with said compartment inregistry with the worl support, and means control. lable by said secondplunger for determining the operation ot said stop means.

29. In combination, in machine ol' the class described, a workpositioning plunger having an axial bore, and a i'eeler element withinsaid bore and movable relatively to said plunger.

250. in combination in a machine of the class described, a work supporthaving an abutment member, movable selector member having a workreceiving element, a pusher device `for engaging worl: with saidabutment, a transterrer member tor moving work Ytrom said support intoengagement with the receiving element of said selector device, a driveshaft, a pair o'll cams upon said shail't operative to move saidselector and said pusher devices in kone direction respectively,resilient means 'rior moving said devices in the opposite direction, anda third cam mounted upon said shaft and having connection with saidtransfer-rer device whereby positively to move said device in oppositedirections.

3l. An apparatus 'lor assorting objects comprising a support lor suchobjects, a member provided with compartments, means for moving saidmember whereby to cause said compartments successively to register withsaid supporting means, 'eeler means movable into contact with an objectcarried by said supporting means, and stop means under control of saidfeeler means constructed and arranged to arrest the movement ofsaidmember at a. predetermined pointin its path of travel.

32. kA sorting mechanism comprising a support for objects to beassorted, a member provided with compartments, means tending normally tomove said member whereby successively to register its compartments withsaid supporting means, adjustable stop means forv limiting Ithe movementof said member, and automatic means for adjusting said`stop means.

33. A mechanism for assorting machine elements, comprising anoscillatable `of substantially segmental form, said member.

having a plurality of chambers adjacent its arcuate end, a movabletransferrer device, spring means normally tending to swing saidoscillatable member whereby successively to register said chambers withsaid transferrer, and means sensitively responsive to varying positionsof a machine element relatively to the axis of the path of movement ofsaid transferrer for limiting the arc of oscillation of said member.

34. A mechanism of the class described comprising a lever device ofsubstantially segmental form, said lever device having a plurality ofcompartments adjacent its arcuate end, resilient means normally tendingto swingysaid lever in one direction, a stop pawl engageable with anelement of said lever for limiting the swing thereof, and automaticmeans for controlling the engage- Yment, of said pawl and element.

' 35. A mechanism of the class described comprisingwork positioningmeans and a lever member having a plurality ofopenings adjacent its`tree end, resilient means tending to swing said lever in one direction,means for swinging the lever in the opposite direction, ay stop elementcarried by said lever and having a predetermined position relative toone of said compartments, a pawl engageable with said element, and workcontrolled means for determining the engagement of said pawl andelement. Y

36. A mechanism of the class described comprising work positioningmeans, a lever member having a pluralityof work rece-iving compartments,a yplurality ot stopl ele- `ments carried by said lever andcorresponding to certain of said compartments, stop pawls for engagementwith said' stop elements, and independent means controlled by therelation of the' work to said Apositioning means for determining theactuation of the respective pawls.

37. A machine for manipulating detached objects comprising positioningmeans for such objects, a movable member having a plurality ofcompartments for the reception ot such objects and having a dischargechute communicating with each of said compartments, a plurality of stopelements carried by said member, resilient means tending normally tomove said member in one direction, a pawl engageable selectivly with oneor the other of said stop elements, and means for determining theposition of said pawl.

38. In a vmachine for assorting detached machine elements, incombination asupport for such elements, a segmental lever member havinga plurality or compartments adjacent its free extremity, a dischargepassage in said lever member communicating with a pair of adjacentcompartments, a second discharge passage communicating with another ofsaid compartments, resilient means tending normally to swing said levermember in one direction, positive means for swinging said lever' memberin the opposite direction, adjustable stop means for limiting the arc ofmovement of said lever under the action ot such resilient means, andeeler mechanism associated with said work support and constructed andarranged to determine the actuation of said stop means in accordancewith the position oi thevwork relative to such work support.

39. in combination in a machine of the class described, a movableselector device, a work support having an abutment member, a feelerdevice associated with said abutment, pawl and ratchet mechanism fordetermining the position of said selector device relatively to the worksupport, and connections between said `I-eeler device and an element ofsaid pawl and ratchet mechanism whereby to determine the operation ofthe latter.

4-0. In combination in a mechanism of the class described, anascillatable selector'device provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth,a work engaging abutment, eeler mechanism associated with said abutment,a pawl member constructed and arranged for engagement with said ratchetteeth, and connections between said feeler mechanism and `said pawlwhereby to determine the operawith which such feeler devices may bebrought into contact. n

42. In combination in a machine of the class described, a movableselector device, a bracket outstanding therefrom having a ratchet tooththerein, a locking pawl engageable with said tooth, a. feeler deviceassociated with said work support and comprising a slidable plunger, alever member having connection with the tree extremity of said plunger,and means for transmitting movement of said lever to said pawl wherebyto determine the operative engagement ot the latter with said ratchettooth.

43. In a machine of the class described, a work support, a movableselector device .provided with a ratchet tooth a pawl engageable withsaid ratchet tooth 'or limiting movement or the selector device, a workfeeling plunger associated with said work support, a lever havingconnection with the outer eX- tremity of said plunger, and a sli-dablerod interposed between said lever and said pawl and constructed andarranged to be engaged by said lever during normal operation of thcplunger whereby to lift said pavvl out of engagement with said tooth.

44. In combination in a machine of the class described, a work support,a movable selector device provided with a ratchet tooth, a pawl,resilient means normally tending to move said pawl into engagement withsaid tooth, a work feeling element movable toward and trom workpositioned upon such support, and means interposed between said elementand said pawl so constructed and arranged that, upon contact of saidelement with defective work, the pawl is permitted to engage such toothand, upon movement of said eeler element into operative relationshipwith properly positioned and perfect work, such pawl will be lifted fromsaid tooth.

45. In a machine of the class described comprising a segmental selectorlever having work engaging elements adjacent its tree extremity, andanti-friction guide means for the tree extremity of said lever.

46. In combination in a machine for posi tioning detached machineelements, a selector lever, means for moving an element into engagementwith said lever, a iXed guide rail or arcuate form, and a roller mountedupon the free extremity or said lever and engaging said guide rail.

47. In combination in a machine of the class described, a selector levercomprising a plurality of work receiving elements, an arm outstandingfrom said lever and provided with an anti-friction roll, a rotatable cammember engageable with said roll for swinging said lever in onedirection, and spring means normally tending to swing said leverin theopposite direction.

48. A sorting apparatus comprising a movable selector' device,adjustable means normally operative to move said device through a pathof predetermined extent, means tor stopping said selector at anintermediate point in its path, and means controlled by the work to besorted for determining the adjustment ot' said stop means.

49. A sorting apparatus comprising work presenting means,` workdelivering means, and movable means controllable .by vthe work aspresented for sorting, and constructed and arranged similarly to orientsuch work and transfer it to the delivering means.

50. A sorting apparatus comprising a selector mechanism comprising amovable element, positive means for moving saide'lement in onedirection, spring means for moving said element in the oppositedirection, and adjustable stop means controllable in accordance with theinitial position of the work Jfor limiting the vmovement of said element'by said spring means.

51. A machine of the class described comprising work supporting means, aworkv engaging abutment, a reciprocab'le element for moving work intoengagement with said abutment, and a eeler member associated with saidreciprocable element said feeler member `being sensitively responsivetothe eccentric positioning or work relative to the Work-engaging faceof said reciprocable element.

52. In a machine of the class described, in combination, work supportingmeans, a movable member provided with a work receiving chamber, andreciprocable eeler means engageable with work held by said worksupporting means and constructed and arranged to determine theregistration of said ciliamber with work held by said supporting means,whereby such work may be delivered from said supporting means directlyinto such chamber.

53. An apparatus of the class described comprising work-positioningmeans, means providing a plurality of work-receiving openings, and acommon discharge passage leading therefrom, work-orienting vmeansinterposed .between the respective openings and said passage, andmeans'for moving the means having the work-receiving openings thereinwhereby selectively to register snch openings with said Work-positioningmeans.

54. An apparatus of the class described comprising work-positioningmeans, a movable member provided with a plurality of work-receivingelements, common means for conducting work away framvsaid elements, andVwork-orienting means interposed lbetween the respective receivingelements and the said conducting means.

5.5. A mechanism of the class described comprising work-positioningmeans and a member having a plurality of openings, resilient meanstending to move said member in one direction, means for moving themember in the opposite direction, a stop element carried by said member,such stop element having a predetermined relation to one of saidopenings, a paWl engageable with said element, and Work controllingmeans for determining the engagement of the paWl with said element.

this 14th day of July, 1921.

CHESTER T. MOREY.

